Driver that needs to be installed via setup.exe

[betamax]

I would like to have this program silently executed at T-39, since this is before windows tries to install it's own drivers for devices. Therefore I was wondering if it's safe to execute it from DetachedPrograms with Arguments = "-s" (for silent install).

The setup won't restart after it's done, so that's not a problem. The rest of the windows installation should proceed normally.

Does this sound safe?

[nmX.Memnoch]

Your SoundMAX drivers don't have to be installed using setup.exe. You can integrate them just like any other driver, except that you also need the hotfix for KB888111 integrated into your source. See this thread:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=96202

Hope it helps...

[betamax]

That's what I originally did. It works, but there's a problem. Installing by specifying the .inf file works for installing the *drivers*. But I also want it to install the control panel that let's me access otherwise inaccessible options (mic filtering specifically).

The only way that works is to run the installshield setup.exe provided with the driver pack. Is there a way to integrate this as well?

[nmX.Memnoch]

I'm pretty sure you'd have to install that via RunOnceEx after installation has completed. You wouldn't want that install running if the machine doesn't have a SoundMAX card so you can do a little scripting to detect whether or not the system has that sound card.

[betamax]

What if it's always going to run on a machine with a sound max card?

I have a standard retail copy of windows for installation on one machine. I also have the CD-Key in the answer file as well, so it's really only meant for my pc and my pc only.

Are there any other concerns about installing at T-39? Filesystem wise? I was just worried if it was too early in the install stage to run that setup program at T-39, because I thought something might get overwritten later on.

Which stage are regular applications usually installed at? T-12 with RunOnceEx?

The reason why I'm not using RunOnceEx or GuiRunOnce is because I'd like to have the software installed before even the first login.

Let me know if this is doable. Thanks

[nmX.Memnoch]

If you use CMDLINES.TXT then it'll install at about T-13. If I were going to run it during install, that's where I would do it. Doing it at that stage will run it after all of the drivers and hotfixes have already been applied to the system.

[betamax]

That was my initial idea as well. The only reason why I considered T-39 was that I wanted to run the setup.exe *before* windows detected the card and installed any drivers for it. This is because, when invoked in regular mode, the setup program will recommend that you uninstall the current drivers and restart.

Is there a way to prevent windows from installing drivers for a particular device?

[nmX.Memnoch]

Don't include them in the $OEM$ structure or your OemPnPDriversPath. That will prevent Windows from automatically installing the drivers for the SoundMAX cards since it doesn't have them built in.

I'd still recommend using CMDLINES.TXT at the T-13 stage though. KB888111 has to be applied before the drivers for any HDA sound cards. Without that hotfix the drivers won't install (or at least not properly).